Trimbach Gewurztraminer Vendanges Tardives

Wine information: Maison Trimbach (F. E. Trimbach) is, without question, one of the greatest names in wine-making in the French region of Alsace. Based in the town of Ribeauvillé, the Trimbach family has been involved in wine making over 13 generations. The business was founded by Jean Trimbach in 1626 in Riquewihr and has since moved twice, in the 1840s to Hunawihr and most recently to Ribeauvillé after World War One. Maison Trimbach has an enviable reputation for the quality of its entire range. Trimbach owns many vineyard located around Ribeauvillé (with predominantly limestone soils) but they also act as a negociant for local growers . Trimbach does not use the Alsace Grand Cru designation for any of their wines (although most of their top wines come from Grand Cru vineyard sites). The company is perhaps best known for its top-end dry Rieslings made in the traditional Alsatian style – structured, elegant, fruity, balanced and long-lived. Trimbach’s top wine is the iconic Clos Ste Hune, a dry Riesling produced from a special plot in the Rosacker Grand Cru Vineyard. Trimbach wines are also listed in every single one of the 26 Three Michelin Star restaurants in France, and are present on the very best restaurant wine lists across the globe. Vendanges Tardives (Late-Harvested) wines are restricted to four noble grape varieties, Muscat, Riesling, Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer, these wines are subjected to some of the French most stringent wine laws. Vendanges tardives grapes are picked last of all, and only from the choicest plots in the greatest years, the grapes are always over-ripe and often affected by noble rot, or Botrytis cinerea. Unlike most Alsace wines, they contain residual sugar which gives high viscosity and a honeyed quality. However their great richness is balanced by fresh fruity acidity which does not only  confers exceptional length on the palate but also prevents the wines from being cloying. This wine is made from botrytised noble Gewurztraminer hand-selected and from the best vineyards. It is made in only exceptional years and has natural residual sugar (over 80g) which harmonises perfectly with the fresh and acidic character.

Food & drink match: This wine speaks for itself and makes a great aperitif. It goes well with foie gras or fruity rich desserts such as a peach tarte tartin or a steamed syrup pudding. The wine can also be paired with blue cheeses and rich, spicy asian dishes.

Reviews: "Celery root and ham hock, brown spices, mint, and pit fruit preserves rise from the glass of Trimbach 2002 Gewurztraminer Vendange Tardive. Honeyed, spicy, and (at over 8o grams residual sugar) surprisingly sweet for the house style, it nevertheless doesn’t at all lack for brightness. On the contrary, there is lip-smacking primary juiciness here and a refinement and delicacy in the finish of rose petals, spices, mint, resin that stretches from ear to ear. A rather dusty, obvious botrytis character and some extraneous sweetness currently accrued several late-harvested Trimbach 2001s I tasted. The rarest of these, however, put on an impressive show." 92 PointsDavid Schildknecht, Wine Advocate February 2008

 
     

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